The Revolutionary War (1775-1783) was the war in which the thirteen American colonies fought to become independent from Great Britain. Before the war, these colonies were ruled by the British king and Parliament across the ocean. Colonists grew frustrated with British taxes and laws they had no voice in making. When peaceful protests failed, fighting broke out in Massachusetts in 1775, and the colonies declared independence in 1776.

The war was revolutionary because the colonists weren't just changing rulers: they were creating something new. They believed people should govern themselves rather than being subjects of a distant king. This was a radical idea at the time, when most of the world was ruled by monarchs who inherited their power.

George Washington led the Continental Army against British forces. The colonists faced enormous challenges: Britain had the world's most powerful navy and a professional army, while the Americans were mostly farmers with muskets. But the Americans knew the land, fought with determination, and received help from France. After years of battles from Massachusetts to Georgia, Britain surrendered at Yorktown in 1781.

The victory created the United States of America and inspired other peoples around the world to fight for self-government. The war is also called the American Revolution or the War of Independence.